Married in New Jersey BEFORE the colony was established. He's from Britain, as a Reformed Dutch member, in "New Netherland", 5 years before Peter Minuit bought Manhattan.
So what's "the story" here? Is it Ephriam John taking to ship as an adventurous young man? Or was he urged on by his parents? Perhaps there was sectarian violence (or the threat of it) against this family?
Why does a British man go to a Dutch colony instead of New Britain? The Dutch West India Company didn't exist until years after he arrived. Someone arranged for that ship. The ship has to be the key. Did it depart from England, or was it from Holland? Was it a Dutch or British ship? Was Deborah from England?
What I've learned of Dorsett of this time period: This is just after James VI and I has succeeded Elizabeth I. There is certainly religious and political turmoil, but the civil war has not yet started. Protestants are technically in charge, but it's tenuous. Dorsett is a loyalist center.
Our Allen family are Dutch Reformed Protestants and therefore likely have connections to the continent.
I have also learned that there was a significant problem with smuggling in New Netherland. Could Ephriam have been involved?
